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- Tasks: Create delicious meals and menus for our residents while ensuring their dietary needs are met.
- Company: Join Ambient Support, a charity with 25+ years of experience in caring for older people and those with disabilities.
- Benefits: Enjoy flexible working hours, paid holidays, and perks like a 'Refer a Friend' bonus and health discounts.
- Why this job: Make a real difference in people's lives while working in a supportive, community-focused environment.
- Qualifications: Passion for cooking, basic nutrition knowledge, and understanding of health and safety regulations required.
- Other info: This role offers a chance to grow your career in a rewarding field with a diverse team.
Do you want to make a positive difference to people's lives, enabling them to gain greater independence and improve their well-being? If the answer is yes, read on!
Who are Ambient Support?
Ambient Support, a registered UK charity with over 25 years' experience in providing care and support services for older people, people with mental health needs and people with learning disabilities. Our residential care home, The Croft, is a community-based home for Older People in Amersham. We provide care and support to 60 residents, including up to 31 residents with a higher level of specific dementia care needs. This is a welcoming home from home environment offering regular activities and organised events.
The Role of our Cook:
Are you passionate about cooking? Do you want to play a key role in our service by devising a weekly menu and cooking with our residents? This will encompass meeting all the relevant nutritional and dietary needs of the people we support, then this could be the role for you!
Skills and attributes of our Care Assistant:
- Passion for cooking as well as nutrition
- Understanding of Health and safety regulations including COSHH regulations
- Experience of HACCP risk assessments
- Knowledge on food and hygiene regulations
- Ability to supervise catering staff
- Basic nutrition knowledge
- Ability to organise a catering environment
- Capability of working in a position that requires manual handling tasks as a core requirement
- Must be able to demonstrate an understanding and awareness of equality & diversity
- Good communication skills in order to relate well to staff as well as service users
- Basic written communication skills to leave written instructions and to follow a stock control system
- Basic administrative skills
- Ability to work flexibly, responding to the needs of the service, ensuring that the home has staff cover, 365 days of the year
Becoming part of the Ambient family brings benefits too! Flexible working, enabling work-life balance. National Living Wage paid regardless of age, including under 25s. Training and development 'Refer a Friend' bonus scheme. 'Season Ticket' loan & 'Bike to Work' scheme. Paid holiday with a minimum of 28 days holiday, including BH (pro-rata for part-time staff). Membership of Health Service Discounts scheme. Free access to a comprehensive Employee Assistance Programme.
Do you want to take your first steps towards a new rewarding career? If the answer is yes, then we'd love to hear from you.
We positively welcome diversity of background, ethnicity, skills, talents, and contributions from everyone. We are committed to Safeguarding. An Enhanced DBS clearance is required for this post. References will be obtained for all roles.
Care Home Cook employer: Ambient Support Limited
Contact Detail:
Ambient Support Limited Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Care Home Cook
✨Tip Number 1
Familiarise yourself with the specific dietary needs of older adults, especially those with dementia. Understanding how to create menus that cater to these needs will show your commitment to enhancing residents' well-being.
✨Tip Number 2
Highlight any experience you have in a care setting or similar environments. Being able to demonstrate your ability to work in a community-focused role will make you stand out as a candidate.
✨Tip Number 3
Showcase your passion for cooking by discussing any relevant culinary training or experiences. This could include special dietary training or previous roles where you had to create diverse menus.
✨Tip Number 4
Prepare to discuss your knowledge of health and safety regulations during the interview. Being well-versed in COSHH and HACCP will demonstrate your professionalism and readiness for the role.
We think you need these skills to ace Care Home Cook
Some tips for your application 🫡
Understand the Role: Before applying, make sure you fully understand the responsibilities of a Care Home Cook. Familiarise yourself with the specific dietary needs and nutritional requirements of residents, especially those with dementia.
Tailor Your CV: Highlight your cooking experience, particularly in care settings. Include any relevant qualifications in nutrition, food hygiene, and health and safety regulations. Make sure to showcase your ability to create menus that cater to diverse dietary needs.
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter: Write a cover letter that reflects your passion for cooking and caring for others. Mention your understanding of equality and diversity, and how you can contribute to the well-being of the residents at The Croft.
Proofread Your Application: Before submitting, carefully proofread your CV and cover letter for any spelling or grammatical errors. A polished application demonstrates attention to detail, which is crucial in a care environment.
How to prepare for a job interview at Ambient Support Limited
✨Show Your Passion for Cooking
Make sure to express your enthusiasm for cooking and how it can positively impact the residents' lives. Share any personal experiences or stories that highlight your love for food and nutrition.
✨Demonstrate Knowledge of Health and Safety
Be prepared to discuss health and safety regulations, including COSHH and HACCP. Show that you understand the importance of maintaining a safe kitchen environment and how it affects the well-being of the residents.
✨Highlight Your Communication Skills
Since you'll be working closely with both staff and residents, emphasise your ability to communicate effectively. Provide examples of how you've successfully interacted with diverse groups in previous roles.
✨Prepare for Menu Planning Questions
Expect questions about how you would devise a weekly menu that meets the nutritional needs of the residents. Think about dietary restrictions and preferences, and be ready to share your ideas on creating balanced meals.
